Mutati fined for delaying MMD Trial

Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) Faction leader Mr. Felix Mutati was yesterday charged with more costs for delaying the ongoing MMD Court Case.

This was in the High Court case in which Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) National Secretary Ms. Winnie Zaloumis took Mr. Felix Mutati and three others to the High Court to find out who gave them authority to organize the illegal MMD Convention of 2016.

When the court sat yesterday before Judge Newa, Mr. Mutati through his lawyer Mr. Jonas Zimba informed the Judge that his client had given him instructions to file two applications before court. The first being that they were seeking to subpeona the lawyer for the petitioner Mr. Jeah Madaika to testify in their defense and secondly, that they apply to amend their defense following the alleged advise given at the Constitutional Court.

However, Judge Newa adjourned the case to the 3rd of May 2019 for an interparty hearing in her Chambers. She further observed that Mr. Mutati had over a month to file any application, but only chose to do so a day before the hearing. She hence decided to punish Mr. Mutati for wasting the Courts and the practioners’ time by awarding costs to the MMD National Secretary Ms. Winnie Zaloumis. She further informed Mr. Mutati that these costs have to be paid before the next Court hearing which is the 3rd of May, 2019.

This is not the first time that the Courts have awarded costs to the MMD and Dr. Nevers Mumba. The first K400,00 of costs awarded against Mr. Mutati and the three in the current case is ready and due for settlement in seven (7) days. These costs are from the Court of Appeals.

The Supreme Court in April 2018 awarded costs against Mr. Mutati to Dr. Mumba and the MMD. The costs awarded in the High Court, Court of Appeals and Supreme Court have a total estimated costs of over K2. 6 million.

Other costs yet to be computed include those for the recent Constitutional Court case, one for the High Court on the determination of Winnie Zaloumis as National Secretary and lastly yesterday’s costs.

The original article first appeared in the Zambian Observer. You can read the article here: https://www.zambianobserver.com/mutati-fined-for-delaying-mmd-trial/